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Not only was Grant an important part of the Seminoles’ storied football history – he returned the first kickoff FSU ever received and passed for its first touchdown in 1947 – the former quarterback and longtime Perry resident helped secure the program’s future as a major booster and benefactor.

Grant’s wife and their four children also attended FSU and obtained degrees. His three sons played golf for the Seminoles, too.

“We were big Seminoles back in the day when there weren’t many Seminoles in Perry, Florida,” said middle son Mike Grant, 56, a three-year varsity golfer (1979-81) who was coached by the same Don Veller who was his father’s football coach in 1948.

“We could name the Seminole families back in those days (laughing). There was only about five of them.”

Don Grant passed away in his hometown of Perry Tuesday afternoon. He was 92.

Grant played football, basketball and baseball at FSU, arriving on campus in 1946 following a standout prep career at Taylor County High and a stint in the Navy Air Corps.

He was a two-way player for coach Ed Williamson in 1947, signaling the start of the program’s modern era.

In FSU’s inaugural game against Stetson at Centennial Field – home to today’s Cascades Park – on Oct. 18, Grant returned the opening kickoff 29 yards.

His 24-yard touchdown pass to Charles McMillan in the end-zone corner gave FSU an early 6-0 lead. But Stetson rallied to win 14-6 before a crowd of 7,165.

FSU played that game without a nickname, adopting the Seminoles nickname – the choice made by a student ballot – in time for the second game at Cumberland. The Seminoles finished the season 0-5.

Grant focused more on defense during his second and final season in 1948, graduating in the spring of 1949.

“Like a lot people form that generation, he didn’t really talk a whole lot about his past,” said Mike Grant, who works for Merrill Lynch in Tallahassee.

“But he loved FSU though.”

It showed.

Grant returned to Perry, where he purchased an auto parts store – NAPA Perry Auto Supply is run by youngest son Billy Grant – and became the Seminoles’ chief booster in the area.

Grant spent nearly 30 years on the Seminole Boosters, Inc., national board of directors, was among the first to earn Golden Chief designation when that donor level was created by the boosters and was given a "Founder" donation (applies to gifts from $50,000 and up) to the FSU Varsity Club.

Grant and wife Carlyen were married for 58 years. Oldest son Don Grant Jr. lives in Coral Springs and daughter Cheryl Beck is engaged to Tallahassee attorney Bob Boyd.